13% of Qld women abused by partner: study

New research shows 13 per cent of women in Queensland suffer physical or sexual abuse from male partners, while nearly one-third are subjected to non-physical abuse.

The survey, by the Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, highlighted the mental health impacts of the problem and the reluctance of women to get help or end an abusive relationship.

"This is the first such study conducted for the whole of Queensland," project leader Heather Nancarrow told AAP.

The research provides a benchmark for measuring a 12-year national plan to significantly reduce violence against women and their children by 2022, she said.

"If we don't have a benchmark now, we won't know in 2022 whether we've achieved a reduction here in Queensland," Ms Nancarrow said.

"It's not surprising, but it is very disappointing that there are such numbers of women who are experiencing physical, sexual (and) non-physical forms of abuse in their current relationships."

Ms Nancarrow, who was deputy chair of the national council that produced the blueprint for the national plan, said the reasons women stayed with abusive partners had changed in recent years.

"If we'd asked that question 10 years ago, we would have seen shame higher up on the list of reasons," she said.

"But overwhelmingly women are committed to the relationship and want to resolve the problems rather than end the relationship."

The research also showed an elevated risk of depression and severe psychological symptoms for women subjected to all forms of physical and non-physical abuse.

Ms Nancarrow said there was a message for health practitioners in the results.

"If they're seeing women presenting with those kinds of symptoms they need to be considering domestic violence as a possible causal factor, and instead of just treating the symptoms they should be looking to address the cause."